Variety of Calla Lily Named &#39;Aspen&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘Aspen’ is a new variety of  calla  lily having flowers with a pure white-colored spathe that produces 2-10 flowers per tuber. The flower stems are about 70 cm. in height and the leaves are green with whitish spots and have a leathery texture.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Zantedeschia sprengeri

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘ASPEN’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of calla lily, botanically known as Zantedeschia sprengeri and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Aspen’.

‘Aspen’ is a product of a planned breeding program which had the objective of creating Zantedeschia hybrids for cut flower production in a wide range of colors with a large, classic flower shape. The breeding program began in 1989 and the new cultivar is a seedling selected from the crossing of Zantedeschia sprengeri seedling Z030479 (female parent, unpatented) with Zantedeschia sprengeri variety ‘Chrystal Blush’ (male parent, unpatented). ‘Aspen’ was selected in 2008 by the inventor C. J. J. Randag in ‘t Zand, The Netherlands as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Aspen’ by tissue culture was performed by the inventor in August of 2008 in ‘t Zand, The Netherlands. Further asexual reproductions by tissue culture at the same location has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are retained and reproduced true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in ‘t Zand, The Netherlands under greenhouse conditions which approximate those generally used in horticultural practice. Color references are made to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticulture Society of London, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used.

The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variation in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined to basic characteristics of ‘Aspen’ which, in combination, distinguish this calla lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Pure white-colored spathe;

2. Fast forcing time; and

3. High flower production.

Table 1 provides similarities and differences of ‘Aspen’ to its parents and ‘Captain Ventura’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,245).

TABLE 1 ‘Aspen’ Similarities Differences Z030479 Leaf shape Number of spathes ‘Chrystal Blush’ Leaf shape Spots on leaves Very small and late pink blush ‘Captain Ventura’ Leaf shape Spathe color Spathe shape

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety, with the colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 is a close-up photograph of the new variety; and

FIG. 2 is a photograph of multiple plants of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

-   The plant:     -   -   Size.—Height of the leaf canopy above the soil: 70-85 cm.             Height of top of flower above the soil: 70-95 cm. Diameter:             25-40 cm.         -   Form.—Erect.         -   Number of flowers per tuber.—Size 9-12 cm. in diameter: 2-4             flowers. Size 12-15 cm. in diameter: 4-6 flowers. Size             15-18 cm. in diameter: 6-10 flowers.         -   Branches.—Character: Like the variety ‘Picasso’ (U.S. Plant             Pat. No. 15,282). Color: Between Yellow-Green Group RHS 146A             and 146B, with spots between Red-Purple Group RHS 59A and             59B.         -   Leaves.—Size: Width: 7-9 cm. Length: 70-90 cm. Number per             plant: 10-20. Shape: Elliptic. Color: Upper surface: Green             Group RHS 137C to 137D. Lower surface: Green Group RHS 137C             to 137D. Margin: Wavy. Veins: Configuration: Pinnate. Color:             Yellow-Green Group RHS 147B. Surface quality: Leathery.             Petiole: Length: 50-65 cm. Color: The base is between             Green-White Group RHS 157A and 157B. Above the base the             petiole is heavily spotted with colors between Red-Purple             Group RHS 59A and 59B. The upper part of the petiole is             between Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A and 144B.         -   Roots.—Color: White. Branching: Similar to other             Zantedeschia varieties. -   The flower and seeds:     -   -   Spathe.—Size: Length: 6-15 cm. Width: 4-9 cm. Color: Upper             surface: Varies between White Group RHS 155B and 155C. Lower             surface: Varies between White Group RHS 155B and 155C; a             very small light pink blush sometimes appears on the edge of             the spathe when maturing. Vein color: Approximately             Yellow-White Group RHS 158C. Shape: Cupped.         -   Spadix.—Size: Length: 10-25 mm. Diameter: 2-5 mm. Color:             Between Yellow-Orange Group RHS 16B and 16C. Position             relative to spathe: Upright.         -   Peduncle.—Size: Length: 70-95 cm. Diameter: 6-10 mm. Color:             Upper part varies between Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A and             144B and the lower part is Green-White Group RHS 157D with             spots between Red-Purple Group RHS 59A and 59B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Location of female organs: Basal             position of the spadix. Location of male organs: Upper             position of the spadix. Perianth: Conspicuous. Stamens:             Presence: Not visible before pollen release. Number: More             than 50. Pollen amount:. Similar to ‘Picasso’. Color:             Between White Group RHS 155A and 155B. Anther: Shape: Round             and wire-like. Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between White             Group RHS 155A and 155B. Filament: Length: Less than 1 mm.             Color: Between White Group RHS 155A and 155B. Pistil:             Number: 30 to 50. Length beyond perianth: About 1 mm.             Stigma: Shape: Round. Size: Less than 1 mm. Style: Length:             Less than 1 mm. Color: Between Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A             and 144B. Ovaries: Texture: Smooth. Length: Between 1 to             10 mm. Width: Between 1 to 10 mm. Color: Top color is             between Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A and 144B; bottom color             is between Green-White Group RHS 157C and 157D.         -   Seeds.—Length: 4-7 mm. Width: 3-6 mm. Color: Between             Yellow-Green Group RHS 150B and 150C. Amount: Between 1100. -   General:     -   -   Disease resistance.—No unusual susceptibility to diseases             noticed to date.         -   Pest resistance.—No unusual susceptibility to pests noticed             to date.         -   Heat tolerance.—No heat tolerance.         -   Hardiness.—Not hardy.         -   Flowering.—Tubers planted in a greenhouse in The Netherlands             in February produce flowers in April. Tubers planted             outdoors in The Netherlands in May produce flowers in July.         -   Lastingness.—About two weeks on the plant.         -   Fragrance: None. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of calla lily plant named ‘Aspen’ as herein described and illustrated. 